Journal connection for a washing machine



Aug. 27, 1968 c. .J. DUPEUX JOURNAL CONNECTION FOR A WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1966 INVENTOR.

CYPRIEN JEAN DUPEUX AGEN Aug. 27, 1968 c. J. DUPEUX 3,398,556

JOURNAL CONNECTION FOR A WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CYPRIEN JEAN DUPEUX AGENT United States Patent 3,398,556 JOURNAL CONNECTION FOR A WASHING MACHINE Cyprian Jean Dupeux, Chatou, France, assignor to North American Philips Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 520,793 Claims priority, application France, Jan. 15, 1965,

6 Claims. c1. 68--18) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fluid inlet connection for the rotating drum of a washing machine which permits the introduction of wash water through the journal into the drum. The journal is aligned with the central axis of the rotating drum and is supported on a bearing, the latter of which being fastened to the wash tub. The bearing engages less than half the surface of the journal thereby facilitating insertion and removal of the drum from the bearing. Water enters the drum via the aperture in the journal, is centrifuged by the drum rotation and is evacuated by passing through the porous drum walls.

This invention relates to washing machines of the type having a tub and a drum the latter of which is journalled to rotate in the tub about a horizontal or substantially horizontal axis. Additional means are also provided for the introduction of wash water into the drum in the axial di rection.

Washing machines of this kind are usually simple and inexpensive of construction and not designed for drying the washing by centrifuging. However, certain problems arise with respect to the removing of the material being washed and removing a dirt and soap residue. This removal may be best accomplished by introducing a continuous supply of water into the drum, which performs its normal washing movement during this process, and discharging the water out of the tub at its lower end.

The present invention affords a simple and inexpensive solution which is characterized in that the drum is provided with at least one journal having a central bore through which the water may be introduced. The journal bears in a half-bearing which is integral with the tub and opens upwardly. The bearing is provided with a shoulder which is engaged by the journal in the axial direction. An inlet aperture to which a water supply line is connected is provided which is concentrically located with respect to the half-bearing on the wall of the tub. Thus not only a satisfactory supply of water is obtained but it is also possible to lift the drum out of the bearing, for example for the purpose of removing any washing that has found its way between the tub and the drum.

In one preferred embodiment the inner wall of the shoulder of the half-bearing is bevelled or rounded, thus facilitating the inflow of the water.

In a further embodiment a jet pipe is arranged in the inlet aperture for water so that the water can spray through it into the drum.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, one embodiment thereof will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a half-bearing such as used in the construction according to the invention, and

FIG. 3 shows a jet pipe such as may preferably be used.

In FIG. 1 the wall of the tub of a washing machine is 3,398,556 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 designated 3 and the flat sidewall of rotatable cylindrical drum into which the washing may be introduced is designated 7. A half-bearing 1 is arranged on the inner side of the tub wall 3. This half-bearing may be of metal, but it is also possible to manufacture it from a synthetic material, such as a polyamide, by injection moulding. The bearing may also be integral with the tub, for example if the tub is manufactured from synthetic material. The tub has an aperture located with the centre line of the half-bearing 1 at the area where a water supply line 2 is connected to the wall 3 of the tub. A semi-cylindrical inner surface 4 of the half-bearing 1 supports a hollow journal 5 connected to the wall 7 of the drum. The journal 5 is manufactured from deepdrawn sheet metal. A flange is provided on the journal 5 which is secured by means of hollow rivets 8 to the wall 7 of the drum. The side of the journal which is adjacent the tub wall is provided with an aperture 6 through which the Water supplied can flow into the drum. To this end the wall of the drum also has a central aperture which is covered wholly or in part by a filter or grating 9 which allows the passage of the inflowing water and prevents emergence of the washing during the washing treatment. The half-bearing 1 is strengthened by ribs 10 and is provided with a shoulder 11 which is engaged by the journal 5 in the axial direction. An upper surface 12 of the shoulder is bevelled to facilitate the entrance of the water. The half-bearing 1 is connected to the tub at points of fastening 13 by means of threaded bolts.

It is not necessary to provide a seal between the inlet aperture of the tub and the drum. The small amount of water which trickles through between the bearing 1 and the journal 5 flows down into the tub and is removed together with the other water.

A device according to the invention permits continuous rinsing while the drum is rotating. The water, through centrifugal action, flows outwardly from the interior of the drum through the washing taking along with it dirt and soap residue. The water then flows through the perforated cylindrical outer wall of the drum into the tub and is removed therefrom.

In another embodiment (see FIG. 3) the outlet of the water supply line 2 is provided with a nozzle 14, 15 so that the water enters into the drum in the form of a jet. This jet has an inclined direction with respect to the axis of the drum in order to spray directly on the washing. The nozzle 14 is made of rubber or a soft synthetic material, in order to obviate a possible obstruction when lifting the drum out of the bearing. In this embodiment the filter 9' consists of a piece of metal gauze in the form of a hemisphere the inner side of which is secured to the wall of the drum.

Since the half-bearing 1 is open upwardly with respect to the horizontal central axis, the drum is readily removed from the tub for cleaning purposes or for removing any washing which may have fallen between the tub and the wall of the drum.

To facilitate removal of the drum, a handle is provided on the flat wall of the cylindrical wall thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid inlet connection for a washing machine comprising: tub means, drum means rotatable about a horizontal axis and disposed within said tub means, said drum means including an aperture therein; a journal attached to said drum means, the central axis of said journal being coincident with said horizontal axis of rotation of said drum, said journal having a bore therethrough positioned in alignment with said drum aperture; a bearing member attached to said tub means, said bearing member having a semi-circular bearing surface in engagement with said journal; and fluid conduit means in aligned spaced re1ationship with said bore for introducing fluid into said drum via said bore, wherein said bearing member includes a bevelled surface adjacent to and aligned with said journal-bore for facilitating the introduction of fluid into said journal bore.

2. A fluid inlet connection for a washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said drum means comprises a hollow cylindrical drum rotatable about the central axis thereof, and said central axes of said journal bore and said semi-circular bearing surface are coincident with said 10 central axis of rotation of said drum.

3. A fluid inlet connection for a washing machine according to claim 2 further comprising filter means engaging said drum means and overlying said drum aperture.

4. A fluid inlet connection for a washing machine ac cording to claim 2 further comprising a jet pipe attached to said conduit means and extending into said bore of said journal for introducing fluid directly into the drum.

5. A fluid inlet connection for a washing machine according to claim 4 wherein said jet pipe is fabricated from a flexible material thereby facilitating removal of said drum from said bearing.

4" 6. A fluid inlet connection for a washingmachine ac-' cording to claim 5 further comprising filter means engaging said drum and overlying said drum aperture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS- R6. 2,515 3/1867 Peaslee 6858 R6. 8,099 2/1878 Hincrel 68-58 866,527 9/1907 Shive 6858 1,379,247 5/1921 Carpenter 3 68--58 1,523,514 1/1925 Carpenter 6814O 1,574,334 2/1926 Altorfer 68-140 2,243,325 5/1941 Windell 68-58 2,437,169 3/19 8 M11161 68 -58 2,966,052 12/1960 Syles' 6858 FOREIGN PATENTS. 630,689 8/1927 France. 493,188 10/1938 Great Britain.

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner. 

